Mayor of London: Government refugee policies ‘inhumane’, ministers must do more to help

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, is urging the government to do more to help Ukrainian and Afghan refugees in London, after research revealed many were stuck in unsuitable accommodation.

Figures from City Hall have revealed that just under a third of Ukrainians who arrived under the Ukraine Family Scheme were living in unsuitable accommodation, while nearly a quarter (21%) were at immediate risk of homelessness.

Several civil society organisations said overcrowding, short-term or insecure tenancies and relationship breakdowns with hosts were the main reasons for this.  

Problems are being experienced by thousands of Afghan refugees too, who are still living in hotels nearly a year after evacuating Kabul following a government promises to resettle them.

Mr Khan said: ‘It is appalling that refugees from Ukraine and Afghanistan are stranded in unsuitable accommodation after coming to London to seek sanctuary. They have been through the most horrendous experiences, but rather than settling into life in the capital they are stuck and worried about the prospect of homelessness.

‘I’m doing all I can to build a better and fairer London for everyone by helping councils house refugees through the Right to Buy-back fund, and migrants and refugees navigate the complex immigration system by funding advice services and creating an information hub, but we need the Government to urgently provide funding to local authorities, and to voluntary sector and immigration advice services.’

The figures come a week after the government attempted to deport a group of asylum seekers to Rwanda under a controversial immigration policy contested by the European Convention on Human Rights.

Mr Khan called for an end to this policy and for practical changes to the refugee and asylum system:

‘The Government’s inhumane attempts to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda has shown their utter contempt for those in need and serves as a distraction from the urgent need to make practical changes. This cruel approach shames London. I’m urging Ministers to step forward to deliver our country’s obligations to some of the world’s most vulnerable people and ensure that support is there to help others in their time of need.’

The Mayor of London has said the government should provide local authorities with £10,500 for each Ukrainian refugee living in the area to prevent them from going homeless.

He also said that investment should be put into advice services to help refugees navigate the complex immigration system, something he is trying ton address through the new Migrant Londoners Hub.

The Hub can provided asylum seekers with information about their rights, entitlements and services available, after £1.1m funding has been approved to help migrants in the capital.

Photo by Tetiana SHYSHKINA